Evaluation of Kappa-carrageenan supplementation in extender for post-thaw Kajli ram sperm quality.

Cryopreservation is one of the reliable techniques for long-term storage of sperm. The success of this technique depends on the choice of cryoprotectant; therefore, a plethora of literature has reported the effects of different cryoprotective agents so far. Kappa-carrageenan (κ-carrageenan) is a hydrocolloid polysaccharide extracted from red marine seaweed. Its unique property makes it a promising option as a non-colligative cryoprotectant. The current study aims to evaluate the cryoprotective effect of k-carrageenan along with glycerol on ram sperm quality both after equilibration and freezing. Nine Kajli rams were utilized in this experiment for semen collection through an artificial vagina maintained at 42°C. Qualified samples were diluted in tris egg yolk glycerol (TEYG) extender containing different concentrations of k-carrageenan as 0 mg/mL (control), 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1 mg/mL. Post-thaw assessment was done at 37°C after 24 h of storage, which showed a significant improvement (p < .05) in sperm viability, motility, membrane and acrosome integrity in an extender containing k-carrageenan at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL compared to control. It is concluded from the current study that the combination of glycerol and 0.5 mg/mL concentration of k-carrageenan improved the sperm post-thaw quality.

Development of 2400-2450 MHz Frequency Band RF Energy Harvesting System for Low-Power Device Operation.

Recently, there has been an increasing fascination for employing radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting techniques to energize various low-power devices by harnessing the ambient RF energy in the surroundings. This work outlines a novel advancement in RF energy harvesting (RFEH) technology, intending to power portable gadgets with minimal operating power demands. A high-gain receiver microstrip patch antenna was designed and tested to capture ambient RF residue, operating at 2450 MHz. Similarly, a two-stage Dickson voltage booster was developed and employed with the RFEH to transform the received RF signals into useful DC voltage signals. Additionally, an LC series circuit was utilized to ensure impedance matching between the antenna and rectifier, facilitating the extraction of maximum power from the developed prototype. The findings indicate that the developed rectifier attained a peak power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 64% when operating at an input power level of 0 dBm. During experimentation, the voltage booster demonstrated its capability to rectify a minimum input AC signal of only 50 mV, yielding a corresponding 180 mV output DC signal. Moreover, the maximum power of 4.60 µW was achieved when subjected to an input AC signal of 1500 mV with a load resistance of 470 kΩ. Finally, the devised RFEH was also tested in an open environment, receiving signals from Wi-Fi modems positioned at varying distances for evaluation.

Association of insertion /deletion polymorphism of ace gene with essential hypertension in patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Objective &Background: The exact cause of hypertension is unknown in about 90 to 95% patients, known as essential hypertension. Genes may play a crucial role in the pathology of essential hypertension. Gene for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is found on long arm of chromosome 17q23, where 287 base pair insertion or deletion (I/D) polymorphism may occur. This study was aimed to assess the association of I/D polymorphism of ACE gene with blood pressure (BP) in Patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Methods: This Descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st June 2021 to 30th September 2021 at Kuwait Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. The genomic DNA was extracted from lymphocytes and PCR was performed for identification of ACE I/D polymorphism. Results: Total 181 individuals (121 Hypertensive and 60 normal) were enrolled in the study. The measured systolic and diastolic BP in cases were 153.91mmHg±12.65 and 92.94mmHg±5.72, respectively while in control were 118.20±17.13 and 74.12mmHg±7.58, respectively. The Deletion Homozygous (DD), Insertion Homozygous (II) and Deletion and Insertion Heterozygous (DI) genotypes in hypertensive patients were 47 (38.84%), 17 (14.04%) and 57 (47.10%) respectively while in Control group the DD, II and DI were 4 (6.66%), 25 (41.66%) and 31 (51.66%) respectively. This study showed association of DD genotypes of the ACE gene with hypertension as compared to healthy individuals. Conclusion: Individuals with DD genotype may have association with hypertension. polymorphism of ACE gene was proved to be an important genetic marker for essential hypertension in Patients of KPK.

Effect of copper doping on plasmonic nanofilms for high performance photovoltaic energy applications.

In the current era, alternative but environment-friendly sources of energy have gained attention to meet the growing energy demands. In particular, the focus of research has been solar energy and using it to fulfill energy demands. Solar energy is either directly converted into electrical energy or stored for later use. Solar cells are a practical way to turn solar energy into electrical energy. Various materials are being investigated to manufacture solar cell devices that can absorb a maximum number of photons present in sunlight. The present study reports thermally evaporated in situ Cu-doped SnS photon absorber thin films with tunable physical properties. This study mainly explored the effects of changing Cu concentrations on the physical features of light absorption of SnS thin films. The thin films were formed by simultaneous resistive heating of Cu and SnS powders on glass substrates at 150 °C. The X-ray diffraction patterns revealed pure SnS thin films having orthorhombic polycrystalline crystal structures oriented preferentially along the (111) plane. Raman spectroscopy confirmed this phase purity. Photoconductivity studies showed phase dependence on Cu content that improved with increasing concentrations of Cu. The optical bandgap energy was also found to be dependent on Cu content and was observed at 1.10-1.47 eV for SnS thin films with variation in the Cu content, i.e., 0-18%. According to the hot probe method, all films displayed p-type conductivity for the substitution of Cu metal atoms. These findings demonstrated that the prepared thin films are substantial candidates as low-cost, suitably efficient, thin-film solar cells featuring environmentally-friendly active layers that absorb sunlight.

Neuroprotective effects of total alkaloids fraction of Huperzia serrata on scopolamine-induced neurodegenerative animals.

Huperzia serrata contains Huperzine A (HupA)-an alkaloid used to treat cognitive dysfunction. In this study, we used the total alkaloids (HsAE) to investigate their potential in managing cognitive impairment in comparison with HupA. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH assay. In the cellular study, the cell viability and level of ACh of SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated after pretreated with HsAE and scopolamine. For in vivo assay, mice were pre-treated with HsAE, and HupA and undergone scopolamine injection for cognitive impairment. The behavioral tests including the Y-maze and Morris water maze test and the AChE activity, the SOD, CAT, MDA level in the hippocampus and cortex were evaluated. HsAE showed significant scavenging properties on DPPH radicals. HsAE was not toxic to SH-SY5Y cells, and can rescue these cells upon scopolamine treatment. Intriguingly, HsAE showed the neuroprotection against scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. Moreover, HsAE decreased AChE activity, MDA level, increased antioxidative enzyme activity in the hippocampus as well as cortex of mice, which was relatively better than that of HupA. These findings suggested that HsAE may significantly protect the neurons of mice with scopolamine-induced memory impairment connected to AChE depletion and oxidative stress.

Wearable Sensors for Respiration Monitoring: A Review.

This paper provides an overview of flexible and wearable respiration sensors with emphasis on their significance in healthcare applications. The paper classifies these sensors based on their operating frequency distinguishing between high-frequency sensors, which operate above 10 MHz, and low-frequency sensors, which operate below this level. The operating principles of breathing sensors as well as the materials and fabrication techniques employed in their design are addressed. The existing research highlights the need for robust and flexible materials to enable the development of reliable and comfortable sensors. Finally, the paper presents potential research directions and proposes research challenges in the field of flexible and wearable respiration sensors. By identifying emerging trends and gaps in knowledge, this review can encourage further advancements and innovation in the rapidly evolving domain of flexible and wearable sensors.

Variations in the Behaviour, Survival, Haematology, and Biochemistry of Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass Carp) After Exposure to Commercial Grade Atrazine.

The current study assessed the harmful effects of Atrazine (ATZ) herbicide on haematology and biochemistry of the freshwater fish Ctenopharyngodon idella, a commercially significant fish in Pakistan. C. idella (13 ± 8.4 cm; 132 ± 5.6 g) was exposed to graded levels of ATZ, and its 96-hour LC50 value at 25°C was calculated to be 150.5 µl/L. After exposure to ATZ, fish displayed rapid movements, a loss of balance in position and equilibrium, anxious swimming patterns, colour changes, and increased mucous production. The MCHC, MCH, RBCs, and Hb in C. idella decreased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas the MCV, Ht, and WBCs were significantly increased (P < 0.05). At different time intervals (24, 48, 72, and 96 h) following ATZ administration (50, 100, 150, and 200 µl/L), biochemical analysis significantly decreased (P < 0.05) triglyceride, total protein, cholesterol, and albumin levels, whereas glucose levels significantly increased (P < 0.05). We concluded that ATZ is toxic to C. idella, altering their haematology and blood biochemistry even after only a brief exposure.

Impact of COVID-19 on polio vaccination in Pakistan: a concise overview.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted immunization programs around the globe, potentially increasing life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries, which are still struggling to eradicate wild poliovirus. All vaccination campaigns in Pakistan were suspended in April due to the COVID-19 outbreak, leading 40 million children to miss out on polio vaccination. Like the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic could be regarded as a child-rights crisis because it could have life-threatening impact over children, who need immunization, now and in the long-term. Delays in polio vaccination programs might not have immediate impact but, in the long-term, the increase in polio cases in Pakistan could result in the global export of infections. Therefore, healthcare authorities must intensify their efforts to track and vaccinate unvaccinated children in countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. Polio vaccination campaigns need to resume immediately, so we suggest applying social distancing measures along with standard operating procedure to flatten the transmission curve of COVID-19. Furthermore, the concurrent emergence of cVDPV2 means that tOPV should temporarily be used for primary immunization. In the current review, we have discussed delays in polio vaccination, surveillance of polio viruses, reported cases in Pakistan along with recommendations to overcome interrupted immunization.

A Review of the Chemical Extraction of Chitosan from Shrimp Wastes and Prediction of Factors Affecting Chitosan Yield by Using an Artificial Neural Network.

There are two viable options to produce shrimp shells as by-product waste, either within the shrimp production phases or when the shrimp are peeled before cooking by the end user. This waste is considered a double-edged sword, as it is possible to be either a source of environmental pollution, through dumping and burning, or a promising source from which to produce chitosan as a biodegradable, biocompatible biopolymer which has a variety of agricultural, industrial, and biomedical applications. Chitosan is a deacetylated form of chitin that can be chemically recovered from shrimp shells through the three sequential stages of demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation. The main aim of this review paper is to summarize the recent literature on the chemical extraction of chitosan from shrimp shells and to represent the physicochemical properties of chitosan extracted from shrimp shells in different articles, such as chitosan yield, moisture content, solubility, ash content, and degree of deacetylation. Another aim is to analyze the influence of the main predictors of the chemical extraction stages (demineralization, deproteinization, and deacetylation) on the chitosan yield percentage by using a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network. This study showed that the deacetylation alkali concentration is the most crucial parameter, followed by the concentrations of acid and alkali of demineralization and deproteinization, respectively. The current review was conducted to be used in prospective studies for optimizing the chemical extraction of chitosan from shrimp wastes.

Value of Time-Resolved Cardiac CT in Children and Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease and Infective Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) can be challenging due to negative blood cultures and diagnostic limitations of various imaging modalities. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard imaging modality for visualization of valvular vegetations. However, due to the anterior location of the pulmonary valve, post-surgical changes, and sedation requirement, TEE can be challenging in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to assess the value of Cardiac CT (CCT) for diagnosis of IE in children and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study of pediatric patients with CHD and diagnosis of IE who underwent CCT from 2018 to 2022. Data collected included age, gender, cardiac diagnosis, clinical presentation, echocardiographic/CCT findings, and blood culture results. In addition, modified Duke criteria (MDC) for the diagnosis of IE were applied with and without CCT findings as the diagnostic imaging criterion. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were included in this study with a median age of 11 years old. Nine patients were female. Ten patients had IE of the RV-PA conduit and four patients had IE of the aortic valve. Using MDC, 4 patients had definite IE. After including CCT findings, 11 patients (79%) met MDC for definite IE. Blood cultures were positive in 12 patients. CCT revealed the following complications: thromboembolic findings/pseudoaneurysms in 5 patients each and prosthetic valve perforation/prosthetic valve leak in one patient each. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the complimentary role of CCT to echocardiography in the work-up and diagnosis of IE in patients with CHD. With further improvement in lowering radiation exposure, CCT may have a key role in the diagnostic work-up of endocarditis and could be implemented in the diagnostic criteria of IE.

Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for Neutral Red Dye Spectrophotometric Determination.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES), which have low toxicity and are low cost, biodegradable, and easily synthesized, were used for the extraction of neutral red (NR) dye before its spectrophotometric analysis. DES, containing choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and phenol as a hydrogen bond donor with a molar ratio of 1:2, was used for the extraction of NR dye from aqueous media. The possible interaction of different DESs with NR was studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally, a UV-visible spectrophotometer was used for the quantitative analysis. The most important parameters affecting method performance, such as pH, extraction temperature, DES type, its volume, THF volume, sonication time, and centrifugation time, were optimized. The developed method provides exceptional sensitivity in terms of LOD and LOQ, which were 2.2 and 7.3 µg/L respectively. The relative standard deviation was 1.35−1.5% (n = 10), and the pre-concentration factor was 40. The method was found to be linear in the range of 2−300 µg/L (R2 = 0.9967). The method was successfully used for the determination of NR in wastewater samples. Finally, the DES-based method presents operational simplicity, high sensitivity, and rapid determination (<5 min) compared with other analytical procedures.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome complicated by single ventricle physiology: A case report.

Clinically significant extrauterine twin-twin transfusion syndrome in conjoined twins is rare and carries a high risk of perinatal mortality. The ensuing postnatal imbalance in circulation across connecting vessels results in hypovolemia in the donor and hypervolemia in the recipient. Data on management and treatment are sparse especially in the setting of a single ventricle congenital heart defect. We present a case of a pair of omphalopagus conjoined twins, one with a single ventricle physiology (Twin B), who developed twin-twin transfusion syndrome shortly after birth. The resulting pathophysiology in the setting of a single ventricle congenital heart defect created added layers of complexity to their management and expedited surgical separation. Shunting from Twin B to Twin A-with an anatomically normal heart-resulted in mal-perfusion and rapid deterioration jeopardizing the health of both twins. In the preoperative course, steps taken to medically optimize the twins prior to surgery and the anesthetic considerations are detailed in this report.

Heavy metals bioaccumulation and subsequent multiple biomarkers based appraisal of toxicity in the critically endangered Tor putitora.

The construction of hydropower projects discharges effluents to aquatic bodies. The effluents consist of different chemicals including heavy metals. The current study assessed the effects of effluents discharged from an under-construction hydropower project on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the tissues of critically endangered Tor putitora (Hamilton, 1822) in the river Panjkora. The subsequent toxic impacts of higher bioaccumulation of heavy metals on different biochemical, hematological, and serum biochemical profiles were also studied. Different biochemical changes were observed in the tissues of T. putitora including stress biomarkers such as reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, total protein contents, antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-s-transferase), acetylcholinesterase, and whole-body cortisol. The hematotoxic effects were also observed as the count of red blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin decreased whereas the count of white blood cells increased. Serum biochemical analysis revealed that cholesterol, urea, total bilirubin, and glucose concentration increased, whereas total proteins and albumin decreased with an increase in the concentration of heavy metals across the sampling sites. The fish from the river was found to be under severe stress as compared to the fish from the reference site. To mitigate the current scenario, stocking fish in an appropriate amount is suggested. The fish diversity and water quality should be assessed at regular intervals to avoid further deterioration and diversity loss. The safety and conservation of wild fisheries should be ensured by implementing strict environmental protection and fishing laws.

Air pollution and associated self-reported effects on the exposed students at Malakand division, Pakistan.

Air pollution is associated with several severe physical, behavioral, and psychological health risks and glitches. Air pollution has been linked to 11 million premature deaths in Pakistan, out of the total 153 million premature deaths worldwide. Air pollution is continuously growing as a threatening challenge for Pakistan. Keeping this in view, the current study was designed to assess air pollution in terms of air quality index (AQI), particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10), SO2, NO2, and O3 over six districts of Malakand division, Northern Pakistan. The second part of the study appraised the associated self-reported effects of air pollution on Pakistani students and the practices, perceptions, and awareness of the students regarding air pollution through a closed-ended questionnaire, administered to 4100 students. The first section of the questionnaire was focused on the physical effects associated with air pollution; the second section was focused on air pollution-linked behavior and psychology; the third portion was focused on perception and awareness of the subjects, whereas the final section was focused on practices and concerns of the subjects regarding air pollution. The students reported that exposure to air pollution significantly affected their physical health, behavior, and psychology. The subjects were aware of the different air pollutants and health complications associated with air pollution, and therefore had adopted preventive measures. It was concluded that air pollution had adverse impacts on the physical and psychological health of the respondents, which consequently altered their behavior. Mass awareness, proper mitigating plan, suitable management, and implementation of strict environmental laws are suggested before the air gets further polluted and becomes life-threatening.

Phylogenetic Characterization of the 5' Untranslated Region of Untypable HCV Genotypes Circulating in Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: Commercial methods for HCV genotyping is challenged by the increased prevalence of untypable genotypes in Pakistan. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to perform nucleotide sequencing of 5' UTR region for genotyping of viral isolates circulating in Peshawar, Pakistan. METHODS: The total number of commercially untypable samples were 94 in which 18 samples were sequenced for the characterization of 5' UTR region. Post-sequencing analysis was performed for genotype identification (n = 18) and molecular phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: The current study reveals different genotypes, that is, 10/18 viral isolates were found to be genotype 3a (55.55%), 3 isolates (genotype 3b, 16.66%), 2 isolates (genotype 6h/6g, 11.11%), 2 (6g/d, 11.11%), and 1 sample (genotype 1c, 5.55%). In addition, genotype 3a is the dominant representative of HCV circulating in Pakistan and has been increasing across the country. CONCLUSION: The current study also reveals that genotype 6 (2 were genotype 6h/6g and 2 were 6g/d) is also circulating in Pakistan and not restricted to South China and Hong Kong.

Giant magnetocaloric effect in nanostructured Fe-Co-P amorphous alloys enabled through pulse electrodeposition.

In this work, amorphous Fe-Co-P films prepared by electrodeposition are found to exhibit dense microstructures with amorphous grains. Through a pulse electrodeposition synthesis route, complex microstructures containing nano-sized grains are obtained in the amorphous alloy films. The nanostructured Fe-Co-P amorphous alloys show superior soft magnetic and magnetocaloric properties as compared with those of other iron-based soft magnetic amorphous alloys reported to date. The coercive field of samples can be as small as 1.6 Oe at room temperature. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of the ternary amorphous alloys has been investigated by evaluating the magnetic entropy changes, |ΔSM |, from their temperature-dependent magnetization behaviors. The |ΔSM| values are as high as 1.846 J kg-1 K-1 with an applied magnetic field of 10 kOe. With a temperature span of 90 K, the refrigerant capacity of samples can be as high as 118.64 J kg-1. The nanostructure enabled giant MCE in Fe-Co-P amorphous alloys is discussed.

First Report of Pre-Harvest Soft Rot of Peach Fruit (Prunus persica) Caused by Enterobacter mori in China.

Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) is one of the major fruit crops of China and a rich source of vital nutrients and fibers. In July 2019, a peach orchard was visited at Pinggu District, Beijing, China. The average temperature and relative humidity at the sampling site were 28±2 °C and 75±2 % respectively. In the orchard, unripe and near to ripe peach fruits cv. 'China Pearl' were observed with soft brown patches (3-4×2-3cm) on the surface. The samples (n=25) were collected based on typical symptoms. When the rotten part of the fruit was pressed, a liquid oozed out of the fruit emitting an unpleasant odor. The disease incidence of fruit soft rot was 22 %. The percent incidence was calculated based on total number of infected fruits divided by total number of fruits examined. Infected fruit tissues were excised into small pieces (5mm) and surface disinfested with 1% NaClO for 25s and rinsed twice with sterilized distilled water (SDW). These pieces (4-5 pieces per sample) were macerated with 1.5 ml SDW in a 2 ml tube. Later, 5 µl supernatant was streaked on Luria Bertani (LB) agar plates and incubated at 28 ºC for 3 days. Oozing liquid (50 µl) was also inoculated on 100ml LB broth and incubated for 24 h and 5 µl was streaked on LB agar medium and incubated at 28 ºC. Purified colonies were obtained by re-streaking 3 times. The isolate formed creamy to light yellowish, irregular, round, rough or smooth-looking colonies on LB medium and pink colonies on Eosin Methylene blue. The bacterium was rod shaped, measuring 0.8 to 1.4 µm in length and 0.2 to 0.5 µm in width (Fig 1) observed using a scanning electron microscope (Hitachi-SU8010). Morphological characteristics were similar to previously described characteristics of Enterobacter spp. (Zhu et al. 2011; Nishijima et al. 1987). Genomic DNA was extracted from all twenty-five isolates by using TIANamp Bacteria DNA Kit (Tiangen-Biotech, Beijing, China) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene of 25 isolates was amplified by using universal primers (27F:5'-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAG-3',/1492R:5'-CTACGGCTACCTTGTTACGA-3'), and rpoB gene (F2: 5'-AACCAGTTCCGCGTTGGCCTGG-3', R2: 5'-CCTGAACAACACGCTCGGA-3') (Mollet et al., 1997). Sequences for EPT-1 were submitted to GenBank (accessions MN548761 (16S rRNA), MN594495 (rpoB)). Accessions MN548761 and MN594495 had 99.35 and 99.77% sequence identity with E. mori (GenBank accessions KF747680, GQ406571). Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed (1000 replicates) using Mega X (Kumar et al. 2018) indicated that isolate EPT-1 clustered with E. mori sequences. To confirm the pathogenicity, medium-sized (n=60) surface disinfested ripe peach fruits cv. 'China Pearl' were wound inoculated with 5 µl suspension of EPT-1 (107cfu/ml) and the control fruit were treated with 5 µl sterilized water. The fruit were kept in sterilized plastic box and incubated at 28 ºC for 7 days at 70% relative humidity, and the pathogenicity test was repeated 3 times. Symptoms similar to the original fruit samples were observed on all inoculated fruit (Fig 2). The pathogen was re-isolated, the colonies obtained from the oozing liquid were similar to those of infected fruit tissues and identified as E. mori based on morphological and sequencing analysis. Previously, E. mori has been reported to cause bacterial wilt on Morus alba L. in China (Zhu et al. 2011). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. mori causing soft rot of peaches in China.

Performance Evaluation of RTS/CTS Scheme in Beacon-Enabled IEEE 802.15.6 MAC Protocol for Wireless Body Area Networks.

The IEEE 802.15.6 standard has the potential to provide cost-effective and unobtrusive medical services to individuals with chronic health conditions. It is a low-power standard developed for wireless body area networks and enables wireless communication inside or near a human body. This standard utilizes a Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol to improve network performance under different channel access priorities. However, the CSMA/CA proposed in the IEEE 802.15.6 standard has poor throughput performance and link reliability when some of the nodes deployed on a human body are hidden from each other. We employ the RTS/CTS scheme to solve hidden node problems in IEEE 802.15.6 networks over a lossy channel. To improve performance of the RTS/CTS scheme, we adjust transmission power levels of the nodes according to transmission failures. We estimate throughput and energy consumption of the proposed model by differentiating several parameters, such as contention window size, values of bit error ratios, number of nodes in different priority classes. The performance results are obtained through analytical approximations and simulations. We observe that the proposed model significantly improves performance of the IEEE 802.15.6 CSMA/CA by resolving hidden node problems.

Physiological and biochemical response of wheat (Triticum aestivum) to TiO2 nanoparticles in phosphorous amended soil: A full life cycle study.

Nanoparticles (NPs) application in soil as nano-fertilizers to increase crop yield is getting attention due to their higher efficiency and less environmental risks. This study investigated the interactive effects of variable titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) levels (0, 30, 50 and 100 mg kg-1) superimposed to phosphorus (P) fertilizer application in soil at the rates of 0, 25 and 50 mg kg-1 on wheat crop. Physiological parameters of plants, their antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD, POD), and contents of crude protein, H2O2, MDA and metals/nutrients (Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu) were measured. Data on physiological traits revealed that application of 50 mg kg-1 of TiO2-NPs without P fertilizer significantly enhanced the root and shoot length by 63 and 26%, respectively. Increased contents of nutrients in the shoots, viz., Ca (316%), Cu (296%), Al (171%) and Mg (187%) with 50 mg kg-1 TiO2-NPs treatment reflected improvement in crop growth and grain quality. Furthermore, P contents in plant tissues were raised up to 56% with 50 mg kg-1 of TiO2-NPs even in the absence of P fertilizer. In the soil, concentration of phytoavailable P was significantly increased up to 63.3% in the presence of 50 mg kg-1 TiO2-NPs as compared to control. Contents of crude protein in grain were also enhanced by 22.8% (at P50) and 17.4% (at P25) with 50 mg kg-1 TiO2-NPs application. Along with P application, TiO2-NPs triggered the activities of SOD (2.06-33.97%) and POD (up to 13.19%), and H2O2 production (50.6-138.8%). However, MDA contents were not elevated significantly at any level of TiO2-NPs, and remained at par with control. It was noteworthy that highest level of TiO2-NPs, viz., 100 mg kg-1 exhibited plant and nutrients response lower than that with 50 mg kg-1. Further, TiO2-NPs triggered the bioavailability of micronutrient heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Fe) and Al, which could have toxicity at higher concentrations. These results suggested that TiO2-NPs might have some affinities with phosphate compounds and metal ions in the soil to bring them in soluble form, which enhanced their bioavailability. Although it improved the crop yield and quality, but toxic or negative impact of TiO2-NPs was also apparent at higher dose. Therefore, investigations on the potential interactions of NPs with other nutrients and toxic metals are needed to enhance our understanding for the safer application of nano-fertilizer.

Congenital heart disease in adults (when kids grow up) pediatric geriatric anesthesia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The current review focuses on the new development of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients in the areas of imaging, percutaneous interventions, ventricular assist devices and transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS: Since the last ACHD publication in the journal, several advances have been made in the evaluation and treatment of these patients. As CHD patients' longevity increases pregnancy, comorbities and acquired heart disease become a concern. Recent data show that the incidence of complications in low-risk CHD is not higher that the regular population. In addition, breakthrough research in percutaneous valve implantation has been published showing good outcomes but needing intensive care recovery in a significant number of patients. In the ACHD heart failure population, assist device and transplant fields mounting evidence shows that these therapies should not be the last resort since low-risk ACHD patient may have similar outcomes to those with acquired heart disease. Finally risk stratification is important in ACHD to define better ways to recover from surgery and anesthesia. SUMMARY: The field of anesthesia for ACHD is growing with new indications for diagnostic, interventional and surgical procedures. Tailoring cardiac and noncardiac care to the different risk profile in ACHD patients will be defined in the next few years. VIDEO ABSTRACT: Motta summary clip: http://links.lww.com/COAN/A65.